Marriage Migration and Integration

Abstract

We would like to thank all the research participants who have contributed to our work by sharing their stories, opinions and insights. In particular we would like to thank the organizations that have facilitated our work: in Bristol, Khaas, Dhek Bhal, Awaz Utaoh; in Bradford, QED and Roshni Ghar. We thank Nina Kaur and Davinder Singh for their generosity with their time, hospitality and assistance. Harpreet Kaur and Melanie Griffiths have carried out crucial work at crucial times for the project. Zahra Sabri helped us with the Urdu translation of fieldwork material. Kaveri Qureshi at the University of Oxford and Therese O'Toole at the University or Bristol provided expert advice in the final stages of this report. We have benefitted enormously from the insights of the participants of the Local and National Stakeholder Workshops in Bristol, Bradford and London, and the participants at the project's academic workshop in Oxford.

The ‘Mangetar Trap’? Work, family and Pakistani migrant husbands

“…The other thing to notice is that British Pakistani women with migrant husbands have higher rates of employment than migrant wivesand when we looked at the 'ever worked' statistics, they were significantly less likely to have 'never worked' than British Pakistani women in intranational marriages. Financial requirements for sponsoring the immigration of a spouse encourage women to work, but our interview data also suggests that transnational marriage can fit with some British Pakistani women's desires to maintain close ties with their own family, and (for some) to pursue their own aspirations for education and employment (Charsley et al, 2016;cf Lievens, 1999).…”

Family Migration and Integration: <i>The Need for a New Research Agenda</i>

“…2 In fact, the perceived problems of integration often serve as the main argument for restricting family migration (Bonjour & Kraler 2015;Charsley, Bolognani & Spencer 2016b;Grillo 2008). However, Charsley et al (2016a) have noted that there is a lack of empirical research underpinning various assumptions about integration and family migration (see also Bonjour & Kraler 2015;OECD 2017: 135).…”

“…Moreover, both streams are characterised by having a restricted understanding of integration, focusing primarily on labour market participation. A notable exception is a recent study of integration among British Pakistanis, Indians and Bangladeshi where Charsley et al have combined qualitative and quantitative data investigating the following six dimensions of integration: (1) structural integration, (2) social integration, (3) cultural integration and (4) civic/political integration as well as (5) identity and (6) transnationalism (Charsley et al 2016a).…”

“…Charsley, Bolognani & Spencer (2016b) have convincingly argued that studies of integration need to include the structural domain (education and labour market participation), social integration, identity and civic, political as well as cultural integration. Their mixed-method empirical investigation of integration in the United Kingdom (Charsley et al 2016a) would be worth following up in Norway and Denmark in addition to other European countries to further our knowledge and theoretical understanding of the immigration-integration nexus.…”

“…Some studies indicate that requirements for family migration, such as income requirements and language and civic integration, may further the integration of marriage migrants and sponsors. For example, income requirements can be an incentive for the sponsors' labour market participation (Bratsberg & Raaum 2010), but if pre-entry income requirements push sponsors to prioritise short-term income from low-skilled jobs at the expense of human capital investments, such income requirements may, in fact, contrary to their aims, contribute to reducing earnings and labour market participation in the long run (Charsley et al 2016a;Kulu-Glasgow & Leerkes 2013). Thus, future research should investigate the long-term effects and unintended consequences that different regulations have on integration for sponsors as well as migrants.…”